Page "Battle of Blenheim" Paragraph 53

Count Horn directed the Prince of Holstein-Beck to take the village, but his two Dutch brigades were cut down by the French and Irish troops, capturing and badly wounding the Prince during the action.

The battle was now in the balance.

If Holstein-Beck's Dutch column were destroyed, the Allied army would be split in two: Eugene's wing would be isolated from Marlborough's, passing the initiative to the Franco-Bavarian forces now engaged across the whole plain.

Seeing the opportunity, Marsin ordered his cavalry to change from facing Eugene, and turn towards their right and the open flank of Churchill's infantry drawn up in front of Unterglau.

Marlborough ( who had crossed the Nebel on a makeshift bridge to take personal control ), ordered Hulsen's Hanoverian battalions to support the Dutch infantry.

A Dutch cavalry brigade under Averock was also called forward but soon came under pressure from Marsin's more numerous squadrons.